translation

noun

trans·​la·​tion tran(t)s-ˈlā-shən 

tranz-

1

: an act, process, or instance of translating: such as

a

: a rendering from one language into another

also : the product of such a rendering

b

: a change to a different substance, form, or appearance : conversion

c(1)

: a transformation of coordinates in which the new axes are parallel to the old ones

(2)

: uniform motion of a body in a straight line

2

: the process of forming a protein molecule at a ribosomal site of protein synthesis from information contained in messenger RNA compare transcription sense 3

translational

tran(t)s-ˈlā-shnəl 

tranz-

-shə-nᵊl

adjective

Synonyms

• paraphrase
• rephrasing
• restatement
• restating
• rewording
• translating

Examples of translation in a Sentence

She is working on a translation of the novel.

a new translation of the Iliad

There were English translations on the menu.

the translation of economic power into political strength

Recent Examples on the Web

Read more: The 10 Best Video Games of 2023 Key to the success of Fallout’s translation between mediums is that itfeels welcoming to both longtime fans of the game series, which consists of four main entries and several spin-offs, and newcomers who have no familiarity with the property. —Richard Newby, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024

Also from Junction will be a special stream, playing views of the eclipse accompanied by a sonification—or the translation of solar data into sound. —Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024

Fortune Korea contributed additional reporting and translation assistance. —Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024

In the beginning, Al-Halabi hand-wrote his translations, because the military hadn’t provided enough computers for the team. —Tamara Audi, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024

Still, Carson’s translation immediately makes clear why those scholars went to so much effort. —Chelsea Leu, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2024

The translation into Hindi inevitably fails; instead, two fabulously different, almost rivalrous texts sit next to each other. —James Wood, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024

This mechanism of transcription and translation is now known as the central dogma of molecular biology. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

His shop is the kind of jack-of-all-trades emporium found in many immigrant neighborhoods: tax preparation, translation services, computer repair and internet access, with complimentary life advice doled out by the generation of migrants who came before you. —Liam Stack Stephanie Keith, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing translation

• in translation
• loan translation
• lose (something) in translation

Kids Definition

translation

noun

trans·​la·​tion tran(t)s-ˈlā-shən 

tranz-

1

: an act, process, or product of translating

2

: the process of forming a protein molecule from information contained in a messenger RNA molecule compare transcription sense 3

Medical Definition

translation

noun

trans·​la·​tion tran(t)s-ˈlā-shən, tranz- 

: the process of forming a protein molecule at a ribosomal site of protein synthesis from information contained in messenger RNA compare transcription

translational

-shnəl, -shən-ᵊl 

adjective